It’s time to go “Beyond.” On Thursday, Disney released the end credits version of what’s set to be the breakout song from “Moana 2.” You can listen on Amazon Music, Apple Music and Spotify.
“Beyond” is an epic ballad performed by Auli’i Cravalho, the voice of Moana, featuring Oceanic music group Te Vaka, which is led by “Moana 2” composer Opetaia Foaʻi. The song is described as the movie’s “I wish” song, a Disney musical tradition where the heroine states her goal for the story. It’s written by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear (Barlow & Bear), who took over songwriting duties on “Moana 2” from Lin-Manuel Miranda.
“During the process of writing this, we spoke to a lot of people who come from Oceania and the Polynesian Islands, and what rings true to all of them is their deep connection to their heritage and how they honor their ancestors,” Barlow & Bear said in a statement. “No matter how daunting this journey is to Moana, she can’t refuse it. It scares her but also exhilarates her because it’s a call from the ancestors. And the idea that the ocean connects us all is a very big part of Pacific Island culture and wayfinding culture.”
“’Beyond’ really impacted me as someone who feels deeply connected to my culture,” Cravalho added. “It’s about going beyond what you’re capable of, beyond your comfort zone, and not doing it just for yourself, doing it for your people.”
“Beyond” is one of two songs from “Moana 2” that Disney is submitting to the Academy Awards to compete for Best Original Song this year, along with “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” performed by Dwayne Johnson.
The full “Moana 2” soundtrack featuring music from Barlow & Bear, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina will be released on Nov. 22, ahead of the movie, which releases on Nov. 27.
Here’s the Moana 2 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack tracklist:
